But because many of these consumers have had unpleasant relationships with banks, they have no qualms about doing business with a non-bank, said Goodwin. “What you did in the past doesn’t matter to us.” Customers aren’t excluded for a history of bounced checks or similar failings.

Goodwin cited polling data that claimed Americans view banking as among the least-innovative industries. Another poll found 65% of us are “open” to a mobile-centric banking relationship that does not involve branches. “Mobile banking,” he added, “has to offer everything a branch offers except safe deposit boxes.”

On the same panel, Paul Tomasofky, who runs Two Sparrows Consulting in north Jersey, predicted: “Traditional branch banking will decline. Consolidation of financial institutions will continue.”

Bottom line: We have entered an era of new-style banking where what worked before no longer matters.